DISCLAIMER: Warner Brothers Home Entertainment asks that we note that it provided a free copy of “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty: The Complete First Season”, “Batman: The Long Halloween”, and “The White Lotus: The Complete First Season” for review purposes. The opinions we share are our own.
Based on the book “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s” by Jeff Pearlman, and renewed for a second season on HBO and HBO Max, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty: The Complete First Season is a fast-break series that chronicles the professional and personal lives of the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, one of sports’ most revered and dominant dynasties — a team that defined an era, both on and off the court. –from Warner Brothers
This set is sure to please fans of the show (and of sportsball in general, we assume) because it’s fairly stacked. In addition to all ten one-hour episodes, you get the after-show, The Forum, for each one, featuring cast and crew. There are additional featurettes as well, including a tour of the set, a look at the training, and behind the scenes featuring some of the people behind the show’s creation. It looks like the second season has started production (at least…that was back in August, so they could be done by now, who knows), so if you want to catch up (and enjoy bonuses), then having this on your shelf is the way to get it done. You can grab that at Amazon.
Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, and inspired by the iconic mid-1990s DC story from Jeph Loeb and the late Tim Sale, Batman: The Long Halloween – Deluxe Edition begins as atrocious serial killings on holidays in Gotham City send The World’s Greatest Detective into action – confronting both organized crime and a unified front of classic DC Super-Villains – while attempting to stop the mysterious murderer. Batman: The Long Halloween was originally released as a two-part film, and both films still stand at 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. –from Warner Brothers
In addition to both parts being on the same release (handy) and being upgraded to the 4K quality for those with the setup to support it, there’s a new twenty-five minute documentary, “Evolution of Evil,” looking at the characters. That’s the new bit that comes with this. You do get four bonus episodes of Batman: The Animated Series that all tie in with the feature presentation. A more comprehensive look at the making-of or a commentary would have been a nice “deluxe” touch, but for the most part, this is for those who crave that super hi-def. It’s grabbable at Amazon.
A social satire set at an exclusive tropical resort, this series follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of one week. Checking into the luxurious White Lotus are a group of vacationers who run roughshod over the resort manager and head of spa services. As darker dynamics emerge with each passing day, this biting six-episode series gradually reveals the complex truths of the seemingly picture-perfect travelers, cheerful hotel employees, and idyllic locale itself. The stellar cast features Murray Bartlett, Connie Britton, Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra Daddario, Fred Hechinger, Jake Lacy, Brittany O’Grady, Natasha Rothwell, Sydney Sweeney and Steve Zahn. The White Lotus is created, written and directed by Mike White. The first season was executive produced by White, David Bernad and Nick Hall; co-executive produced by Mark Kamine and filmed on the island of Maui. – from Warner Brothers
The first season of The White Lotus hits with all six episodes. And with twenty Emmy nominations under its belt (eight of those for acting), it definitely got a lot of attention duly placed upon it. Alas, there’s only two featurettes totaling about six minutes with a discussion of the show and then the cast playing word association game. This is out now to help with catching up or reacquainting yourself before the second season premieres at the end of this month. With lean bonus bits, though, it’s really best for people who want to own it for posterity. It can be acquired at Amazon.
The thrilling fan-favorite drama Magnum P.I. Season Four also arrives on DVD on September 13, starring Teen Choice Award nominee Jay Hernandez (Hostel) and Perdita Weeks (As Above, So Below) in their iconic roles as Thomas Magnum and Juliet Higgins. Watch as the former Navy Seal and his trusted partner, Higgins, take on high-stake missions to solve mysteries on the shores of Hawaii during Magnum P.I.’s final season. The five-disc collection features every drama-filled episode, exclusive behind-the-scenes featurettes and more. — from CBS
Well, it was almost the final season of the show: CBS cancelled it but it looks like the next (two?) seasons are going to be on NBC. All twenty episodes of it are here across five discs. There’s a paucity of bonus bits, I fear…it’s got deleted scenes and a gag reel. Of course, I suppose it makes sense if this is CBS’ last release of it. Regardless, it is here for the completist. Find it over at Amazon.
“In the intense fifth season of SEAL Team, the Bravo team must execute high-stakes missions on foreign soil, but also face explosive troubles much closer to home,” reads the official logline. The band of patriots, led by Jason Hayes (Boreanaz), selflessly put their lives on the line for a call of duty that includes rescuing a weapons expert, taking on an enemy’s nuclear program, and racing against the clock to stop a terrorist attack. Trust will be tested, commitment will be questioned, and unlikely heroes will rise in this thrilling and gritty look at America’s front lines. — from CBS
The fifth season of the show hit just as Season 6 was gracing your screens. All fourteen episodes are here, with a smattering of bonus bits as backup. There’s a gag reel, deleted scenes, and four behind-the-scenes featurettes totaling about a half-hour of goodness. This release is primarily for the completist who wants the whole thing on their shelves. And they can find that at Amazon.
The Equalizer is a reimagining of the classic series starring Academy Award® nominee and multi-hyphenate Queen Latifah (Chicago, Bessie) as Robyn McCall, an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills as a former CIA operative to help those with nowhere else to turn. McCall presents to most as an average single mom who is quietly raising her teenage daughter. But to a trusted few, she is The Equalizer – an anonymous guardian angel and defender of the downtrodden, who’s also dogged in her pursuit of personal redemption. Robyn’s clandestine work and her personal life collide when her smart and observant daughter, Delilah, and her aunt Vi, who lives with Robyn to help her balance life as a working mother, discover her secret career as a vigilante. While Robyn contends with uncertainty at home, she is joined in her pursuit of justice by Melody “Mel” Bayani, an edgy bar owner and sniper from Robyn’s past; and Harry Keshegian, a paranoid and brilliant white-hat hacker. As Robyn aids the oppressed and exploited, she sometimes works with Marcus Dante, an NYPD detective who once sought to uncover her identity, but now respects the need for Robyn’s type of justice even as he often questions her methods. — from CBS
Well, this set does have the universal appeal of watching Queen Latifah distribute proper badassery going for it. All eighteen episodes of the second season are here and they put it out in time to refresh your memory since the third season just recently started up. Again, this is mostly for the completist who likes to own things for themselves. (Don’t blame them in the least.) The bonus bits consist of a gag reel and a deleted scene. Grab a copy for yourself at Amazon.
